The hallmark of the recent latest advances in diagnostic fundus imaging technology is combination of complex hierarchical levels and depths, as well as wide-angle imaging, ultra-wide imaging. The clinical application of wide-angle and ultra-wide imaging, not only can reevaluate the role of the peripheral retina, the classification types and treatment modalities of central retinal vein occlusion, and enhance the reliability of diabetic retinopathy screening, improve the classification and therapeutic decision of diabetic retinopathy, and but also can help guide and improve laser photocoagulation. However we must clearly recognize that the dominant role of ophthalmologists in the diagnosis of ocular fundus diseases cannot be replaced by any advanced fundus imaging technology including wide-angle imaging. We emphasize to use the three factors of cognitive performance (technology, knowledge and thinking) to improve the diagnosis of ocular fundus diseases in China.
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global public health threat. The World Health Organization (WHO) 2020–2024 global TB reports provide a comprehensive overview of the TB situation from 2019 to 2023. In 2023, TB re-emerged as the world's leading infectious killer, with an estimated 10.8 million new cases. While the growth in the incidence rate slowed, the number of deaths decreased to 1.25 million. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted TB control efforts in 2020–2021. As control measures are gradually restored, a positive trend in TB control is emerging. However, significant regional disparities in incidence persist, with eight high-burden countries, including India and China, accounting for over two-thirds of the global total. In 2023, global treatment coverage for drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) was 44.00% with a treatment success rate of 68.00%; yet, with 400 000 new drug-resistant cases, the control situation remains severe. China has achieved remarkable progress in TB control: new cases fell to 741 000 in 2023 (an incidence of 52 per 100 000); mortality decreased significantly; its share of the global DR-TB burden dropped from 14.00% to 7.30%; and the TB/HIV co-infection rate declined from 1.68% in 2019 to 0.66% in 2023, outperforming the global average. Globally, control measures continue to be optimized: treatment coverage increased from 70.00% in 2019 to 75.00% in 2023, the number of people receiving preventive therapy grew to 4.7 million, and rapid diagnostic coverage reached 48.00%. In China, the number of patients treated recovered to 565 000 in 2023, and rapid diagnostic coverage rose to 74.00%. Although technological innovations have enhanced the efficiency of prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and management, achieving the 2030 End TB Strategy goals will require strengthening TB management, building primary healthcare capacity, and targeting interventions for high-risk populations, while balancing resource allocation with technological innovation to address the challenges of a heterogeneous global epidemic.
ObjectiveTo comprehensively analyze the disease burden of respiratory cancers in China from 1990 to 2021, and predict the trend of disease burden changes from 2022 to 2031, in order to improve its prevention and treatment strategies. MethodsData from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database were extracted and analyzed for the disease burden of nasopharyngeal cancer, laryngeal cancer, and tracheal, bronchial and lung cancers (hereinafter referred to as lung cancer) in China from 1990 to 2021. The Joinpoint 4.9.1.0 software was utilized to analyze the corresponding trends. The grey prediction model [GM (1,1)] was employed to forecast the disease burden of respiratory cancers in China from 2022 to 2031. ResultsThe disease burden of respiratory cancers attributed to tobacco and occupational carcinogens in China raised year by year from 1990 to 2021. Among the respiratory cancers, lung cancer led in terms of incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) and their respective age-standardized rates from 1990 to 2021, followed by nasopharyngeal cancer, with laryngeal cancer being the lowest. Analysis via the Joinpoint regression model indicated that, overall, the disease burden of nasopharyngeal and laryngeal cancers in China decreased during this time period, while that of lung cancer increased. From a gender perspective, the disease burden of male patients with nasopharyngeal, laryngeal, and lung cancers was significantly higher than that of female patients from 1990 to 2021. Compared to the global average, the disease burden of respiratory cancers in China from 1990 to 2021 was still relatively heavy. As of 2021, the middle-aged and elderly population above 50 years old was the primary group suffering from the disease burden of respiratory cancers in China. The prediction model showed that the age-standardized rate of nasopharyngeal cancer in China would decline from 2022 to 2031; the age-standardized incidence rate of laryngeal cancer in China would increase, while its age-standardized mortality rate and DALY rate would both decrease; the age-standardized rates of lung cancer in China would all increase. ConclusionIn the past 30 years, the disease burden of nasopharyngeal and laryngeal cancers in China has lightened, but the overall disease burden of lung cancer is still on the rise. Compared to the global average, the disease burden of respiratory cancers in China is still relatively heavy. The disease burden in male patients is significantly higher than that in female patients, and the population above 50 years old is the main group suffering from the disease burden. In the next 10 years, the disease burden of respiratory cancers in China will still tend to increase. Therefore, targeted prevention and treatment strategies for men and the middle-aged and elderly populations remain key challenges that urgently need to be addressed in China's response to respiratory cancers.
There has been ongoing progress in the new technique and equipment in vitreoretinal surgery in recent years, contributing to the improvement of treatment of various vitreoretinal diseases. The application of 3D heads-up display viewing system (3D viewing system) has been one of the most fascinating breakthroughs in vitreoretinal surgery. Unlike the traditional method in which the surgeons have to look through the microscope eyepieces, this system allows them to turn their heads up and operate with their eyes on a high-definition 3D monitor. It provides the surgeons with superior visualization and stereoscopic sensation. And increasing studies have revealed it to be as safe and effective as the traditional microscopic system. Furthermore, the surgeons can keep a heads-up position in a more comfortable posture and lesson the pressure on cervical spine. Meanwhile, 3D viewing system makes it easier for the teaching and learning process among surgeons and assistants. However, there are still potential disadvantages including the latency between surgeon maneuver and visualization on the display, learning curves and cost. We hope that the 3D viewing system will be widely used and become a useful new tool for various vitreoretinal diseases in the near future with rapid development in the technology and constant upgrade of the system.
Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is the key characteristic of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), and the effective therapy is intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents based on clinical and basic research. In the meantime the challenge is how to further improve the inhibiting effect for CNV and visual function of anti-VEGF treatment on nAMD. The new strategy and drug delivery devices for anti-VEGF treatment will optimize the clinical scheme. From bench to bedside, the research on targeted treatment of angiogenesis brings the bloom of nAMD medical therapy.
The article titled "The global burden of lung cancer: Current status and future trends" which is recently published in Nature Reviews Cinical Oncology has provided a detailed analysis of the current global status of lung cancer. This article focuses on the global burden of lung cancer, risk factors, related prevention, control measures and treatment progress. Based on the current situation of lung cancer in the world, this paper analyzes the current situation of lung cancer in China, and briefly interprets the key points of prevention as well as control measures in the article.
Objective To explore the global research status and trends of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) based on knowledge visualization analysis. Methods Based on the Web of Science Core Collection, studies reporting CRRT research that were published between June 2014 and June 2023 were retrieved and collected after manual review. VOSviewer and CiteSpace softwares were used for bibliometric visualization analysis, including publication trends, geographical distribution characteristics, journal distribution characteristics, author contributions, citations, funding source characteristics, and keyword clustering. Results A total of 2708 papers were analyzed, with an increasing trend in the number of articles and citation frequency from 2015 to 2021. The United States was the most prolific country and France was the most influential country. The University of Pittsburgh in the United States had the highest number of publications among research institutions and showed higher motivation for inter-institutional collaboration. The University of Queensland in the Australia had the highest average citation frequency. Professor Rinaldo Bellomo of Australia was the most productive author and Professor Jeffrey Lipman was the most influential. Jason A. Roberts, Jeffrey Lipman and Claudio Ronco were the three authors who had the highest number of collaborations with other authors. Keyword cluster analysis showed that the prognosis of CRRT for renal disease was the focus of research, with hotspots of research being antibiotics, citrate accumulation, plasma replacement, lactate clearance, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and coronavirus disease 2019. Coupling analysis of the literature showed that exploring the indications for CRRT and optimizing treatment prescription were at the forefront of research. Conclusions The present study of CRRT has generally shown an upward trend in the last decade. The management and efficacy of CRRT remains a hot topic of research. Exploring the indications for CRRT and optimizing treatment prescriptions may be a popular research direction and trend in the future.
ObjectiveTo systematically analyze the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and epidemiological trends of tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer (TBL) disease burden attributed to air pollution globally and in China and the United States from 1990 to 2021. Furthermore, based on predictive models, assess the patterns of disease burden changes from 2022 to 2031, providing a scientific basis for formulating targeted TBL prevention and control strategies. MethodsBased on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database, we analyzed the disease burden data of TBL attributed to air pollution globally and in China and the United States from 1990 to 2021. R Studio 4.3.2 software was used to analyze the corresponding trends and the Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) prediction model was used to predict the status of the disease burden of TBL attributed to air pollution in the world and in China and the United States from 2022 to 2031. ResultsIn 2021, the highest number of deaths and disability-adjusted life years attributed to air pollution were in China (211 400 patients and 4.8947 million person-years), followed by the United States (6 000 patients and 124 300 person-years). The age standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and age standardized disability-adjusted life years rate (ASDR) of TBL due to air pollution in the world and in China and the United States showed a decreasing trend (with an average annual percentage change of<0). From 1990 to 2021, the ASMR and ASDR of TBL in China due to air pollution were much higher than those in the United States and the global average. In terms of gender, from 1990 to 2021, the disease burden of male patients with TBL attributed to air pollution in the world and in China and the United States was much higher than that of female patients. The BAPC prediction model showed that from 2022 to 2031, the ASMR and ASDR of TBL attributed to air pollution will showed an upward trend globally, while they showed a downward trend in China and the United States. ConclusionOver the past 30 years, the air pollution-related TBL disease burden in the world and in China and the United States has continued to decline, but China's level is still significantly higher than the global average. The disease burden in men far exceeds that in women, with men and the elderly population aged ≥50 years being high-risk groups. In the future, the global disease trend may reverse and rise, while China and the United States are expected to continuously decline. However, precise prevention and control for high-risk groups remains a key challenge.
ObjectiveTo understand the current status, research hotspots, and future trends in the field of retinoblastoma (RB). MethodsUsing the Web of Science Core Collection SSCI and SCI-Expanded as data sources, relevant RB literature from January 2015 to November 2024 was retrieved. The bibliometric analysis software CiteSpace 6.2.R6 was employed to perform visual analyses of countries/regions, institutions, journals, authors, co-cited references, and keywords. ResultsA total of 5 042 relevant publications were identified. Annual publication numbers in this field consistently exceeded 400, peaking at 565 in 2021. The United States contributed the highest number of publications, with 1 600 articles (31.73%). Among institutions, Harvard University ranked first with 167 publications (3.31%). Abramson DH of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center published the most papers (75). Nature (United Kingdom) received the highest citation count (2 349). The highest betweenness centrality was observed for the United States (0.14) among countries/regions, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (0.21) among institutions, and Berry JL of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (0.21) at the author level. Co-citation and keyword analyses revealed that RB research hotspots are shifting from a focus on basic molecular mechanisms, such as the cell cycle and RB protein, toward advanced therapeutic strategies, such as intra-arterial chemotherapy and nanoparticle-based drug delivery. Emerging keywords such as complexity, chemoresistance and carboplatin indicate that future studies will focus on optimising diagnosis and treatment. ConclusionsFrom 2015 to 2024, RB research displayed a sustained growth trend, with the United States and its institutions and scholars contributing the most publications. The research focus has shifted from the exploration of molecular mechanisms to the optimization of precise treatment strategies, among which the application of nanotechnology and the resolution of drug resistance mechanisms will become key breakthrough directions.
ObjectiveTo analyze the gender-specific distribution patterns of the disease burden of tracheal, bronchial, and lung cancer (hereinafter referred to as lung cancer) attributed to tobacco from 1990 to 2021 globally and in China and the United States (US), and to predict the trend of disease burden changes from 2022 to 2031, aiming to provide multi-dimensional evidence-based support for optimizing tobacco control strategies and precise lung cancer prevention and control systems. MethodsData on the disease burden of lung cancer attributed to tobacco from 1990 to 2021 globally and in China and the US were extracted and integrated from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database. The Joinpoint 4.9.1.0 software was used to analyze the corresponding trends in disease burden. The Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) prediction model was employed to forecast the disease burden of lung cancer from 2022 to 2031. ResultsIn 2021, China had the highest number of deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to lung cancer attributed to tobacco, followed by the US. The top three risk factors for lung cancer globally and in China and the US from 1990 to 2021 were tobacco, air pollution, and occupational risks. The disease burden of lung cancer patients attributed to tobacco has been decreasing year by year in the global and US populations [the average annual percentage change (AAPC) values of age-standardized mortality rate and DALYs rate were: globally: −0.96%, −1.28%; US: −2.33%, −2.72%], while it has been increasing in China (the AAPC values of age-standardized mortality rate and DALYs rate were 0.28% and −0.02%, respectively). From a gender perspective, the disease burden of male patients with lung cancer attributed to tobacco was much higher than that of female patients from 1990 to 2021. Compared to the global average, the disease burden of lung cancer attributed to tobacco in China and the US from 1990 to 2021 was still heavy, with China’s burden being higher than that of the US. The elderly population aged ≥65 years in the global context and in China and the US was the primary group affected by the disease burden of lung cancer attributed to tobacco. The BAPC prediction model indicated that from 2022 to 2031, the age-standardized rates of lung cancer attributed to tobacco in the global context and in China and the US would show a declining trend. ConclusionFrom 1990 to 2021, the disease burden of lung cancer attributed to tobacco in China and the US was still heavy compared to the global average, with China’s burden being significantly higher than that of the US. The focus on prevention and control for both countries remains among the middle-aged and elderly population (especially males), which is a key challenge for tobacco-related lung cancer prevention and treatment work in the next 10 years.